1. Start with the geographic boundary, not a demand assumption
Comstock Northwest is recorded as a CDP in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. The Census estimate describes the population of that place; it does not establish how many residents need legal help, which matters they may have, whether they search online, or whether your firm receives inquiries there. That distinction matters when designing automation. A firm serving Comstock Northwest may also define its service area by county, broader metropolitan relationships or statewide practice scope, but those boundaries should come from the firm’s own intake policy rather than from the population record. Automation should therefore route based on the service areas and matter types you choose, not on an inferred local opportunity.
Recommended approach
Bring your actual geographic eligibility rules to the review. Decide whether a Comstock Northwest inquiry belongs with the same owner, qualification path and follow-up as another Kalamazoo County inquiry. If your firm serves Michigan beyond the CDP, document when an inquiry is in scope, outside scope or requires attorney review.
